Where homes once relied on a single light globe and a fireplace or ducted heating, there are now plenty of ways you can warm up a space to create a cosy and welcoming environment. “Lighting should be of equal importance as a kitchen or bathroom,” says Ben Emerson, electrician at Sydney Sparky, a tradie business listed on hipages. “Lighting is the best way to showcase, brighten and accentuate all the best features in any home.”

While there’s no shortage of beautiful statement lights available to feature around a client’s home, often a better strategy is to use simple lights, such as downlights, to highlight the most impressive aspects of the space. “Often the best lighting is used to make an object look better, such as a nice vase, a plant or a marble benchtop – a simple light can shine on the different colours in the marble and make it a real feature,” explains Melbourne electrician Jamie Holmes from Tor Electrical. “Save the fancy lights for above a table, in a stair void or above an island bench.” A good starting point is to think about previously forgotten parts of a home and consider how lighting could be used to bring them to life. “We’re seeing lighting increasingly being used in non-traditional areas, such as strip lighting on staircases, outlining outdoor patios and for skirting along hallways,” Ben says.

As much as lighting can be aesthetically pleasing, it also needs to be practical. “Some people go for these really nice red globes in the kitchen after seeing them in a restaurant, but after a while we end up going back and changing the globes because they look nice, but they don’t actually do anything,” Jamie says. You also want to encourage homeowners to consider the size of the space before they go for anything too big, bright or bold. “Having a huge light fixture in a small space makes it too cramped and busy,” Ben points out. “Use a mixture of warm, cool and daylight globes around the home to break up the rooms and give each space a different feel. For newer, modern homes, cooler lighting may be a better fit, but if the home is older, warmer lighting will make it feel cosier.”

“Mitre 10 Newtown is a great place to easily pick up handy tools. The customer service is always friendly and the store is very community-oriented”

Ben Emerson – electrician at Sydney Sparky, a tradie business listed on hipages.

No longer something reserved for the Jetsons or a Toorak mansion, automated lighting and climate control are becoming far more accessible for the average homebuyer or renovator, making things safer, more efficient and a lot of fun. “Using sensors rather than light switches provides a safe environment when moving about the home at night,” says Steve Thomas, electronics technician from Integrated Technologies Australia. “For example, if you’re moving from the garage up to the main section of the house with your hands full, sensors will activate lighting so you can see where you are stepping.” Similarly, lighting can now be adjusted to different brightness levels throughout the day. “You could [set the] lighting [to] come on at a more pleasant 20 per cent of maximum during the first part of the day and the last part of night,” Steve explains. Homeowners may also consider automating their heating and cooling, as well as curtains and blinds, to help maintain a stable temperature year-round.

While owners will no doubt want to give some thought to how they want to heat their home – whether they go for gas or electric heating or a traditional wood heater – it’s definitely worth advising them to consider their insulation and window coverings, given up to 35 per cent of heat is lost through the ceiling and 20 per cent through windows. “If the house is well-insulated, electric heaters can be run during sunlight hours to preheat the home, then switched off during the evening,” says Ross Kestle from 4 Seasons Home Insulation, a tradie business listed on hipages. “As long as the home is well-insulated, the heat can be retained during the night until the next morning when the sun comes up.” The choice of curtains can also make a big difference to indoor temperatures. “Window furnishings, including blinds, curtains and shutters, should be designed to trap the air between the glass and the window furnishings, with minimal gaps around the edges,” Ross explains. “Well-fitted window fixtures can have better insulation value than double-glazing.”

If heat loss is a concern, it might be worth helping your client identify any draughts coming under or around doors, cupboards, windows and skirtings. “Up to 25 per cent of heat gain and loss can be through draughts and air leakage alone,” Ross says. “Draught stoppers or seals can be fitted to doors and windows to stop breezes, and gaps can also be siliconed to prevent air leakage.” Planting deciduous trees around the home is another nifty way to help with heating and cooling. “They shade the windows and walls in summer and after losing the leaves in winter, allow the heat in during winter,” Ross adds. “Retractable external blinds can also be used to leverage passive heating [from sunlight] in winter and prevent heat gain in summer.” It’s amazing how such small changes can make such a significant difference to a home’s look and feel. And once your warming work is done, the only thing left to do is enjoy the homeowners’ smiles as they enjoy their snug new space!